Ride or push?

I was very thankful when the riding lawn mower cranked today. It hasn't worked very well, but after mowing most of the summer with the push mower, the riding mower is a life saver! As I was finishing up, I got to thinking about what a difference it makes-pushing or riding. Riding along while the mower does all the work is a breeze. All I have to do is dodge a few limbs here and there and steer, which is really not work at all. As I compared it to push mowing, I found myself relating it to our walk sometimes with the Lord. It is easy to sit on the pew, take in a sermon, turn on KLove, maybe read some devotion and ride along on the message someone else has from the Lord. They do all the work, and we just coast by, taking in the scenery.

Push mowing is hard work, especially as hot as it and and as big as the yard is! The push mower can get around the poles, ditches and flower beds much better than the riding mower. That really convicted me when I saw that I need to not only hear the sermon, the devotion, etc, but then get in there and do the harder thing by digging in deep myself. I need to see what the Lord is telling me, not just hearing it maybe 3 times a week at church, but everyday.

I have to be honest here; it is so much easier to ride by and even though there are many times where God has used a devotion, a pastor, a song, to speak to me, I still need that one on one time with Him and that has always been a struggle for me.

In fact, just this past week, I came in to school having had a bad morning and told someone if they have a good devotion, to send it my way because I needed it that day. If only I had gotten up a little earlier to open the word on my own, maybe God would have had just the words to say to me that day. Instead I relied on someone else, and that is not how He always needs to speak to us.

I wasn't too hot, really, when I was riding the lawn mower; but when I got off and started pushing and actually having to apply myself and use my own energy to get the job done, boy did I work up a thirst!! Water had never tasted so good!

I think it is the same with Him- when we really start seeking Him and spending that time with Him, it makes us thirsty for more of Him.

I hope I find myself pushing more in my walk and learning from the ride when the other mower cranks as well.